Hue wants a marriage, not a honeymoon

That’s what I called the cooperative early period in a Sunday blog post for first-time head coaches working under owner Al Davis.

In a Fresno-area radio interview Monday night, Hue Jackson took the honeymoon reference after either reading about it or hearing about it and went it one better.

“I’ve been told today that we’re in a honeymoon phase,” Jackson said with a chuckle. “I kind of laugh about that. I’d like for it to be one heck of a marriage, because I don’t see what everybody sees. Obviously, maybe I’m a little different. Maybe I’m a little naive when it comes to things, but I don’t think so. I’ve worked for coach Davis for over a year.

“I’ve started a relationship with him based on honesty, based on what I see, You sometimes tell people what they want to hear. I’m not one of those guys. I’m not built that way. I’m going to tell you how it is and if it’s good enough, it’s good enough, and if it’s not, it’s not, and I think that’s where respect comes from.

“He tells me what he sees. I can tell him what I see and then it works together.”

The answer went on much longer as Jackson extolled Davis’ virtues as a rare owner that actually knows and understands football.

The entire transcription of Jackson’s interview with Alexan Balekian and Lorenzo Neal (who played in Baltimore when Jackson was the quarterbacks coach) on KMJ (580-AM) is below.

Jackson didn’t break any new ground, dodging the question of whether the Raiders would run a 4-3 or a 3-4 defense and avoiding the possibility of tampering by noting Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco currently play for another team and talking up the Raiders’ young talent at the position.

When asked by Neal about the lack of a proven wide receiver, Jackson launched into a long answer about the offensive skill players which did include this interesting snippet:

“What I try to do is put them in a position to be successful. Darren had a sensational season, obviously, Jacoby Ford came on and had a good year, Louis Murphy had a good year, Zach is solid and even Darrius Heyward Bey made stride this season.”

Even Darrius Heyward-Bey.

TRANSCRIPT OF HUE JACKSON ON KMJ (580-AM) IN FRESNO

Hosts are Alexan Balekian and Lorenzo Neal

Neal: Take is through the process, what you’re thinking, looking at, lot of Raiders fans in central valley . . .

Jackson: I’m so excited about this opportunity to lead this organization. Obviously, it was a process that started over a year ago, me coming here in late January, and watching the team on offense improve, obviously, coach Davis decided to go in a different direction and I got an opportunity now to lead this organization. There’s a lot of good players here, and what we’re trying to do is obviously put more good players on our team so we can reach that ultimate goal.

Balekian: Your first reaction when Davis decided to let Tom Cable go? Some players came out in defense of Cable . . . your first reaction?

Jackson: Honestly, I was surprised. But I was preparing for my interview in San Francisco at the time. I’ll never forget, I was coming back from Kinkos, having some stuff run off that I needed to take to San Francisco, and all of a sudden I got a call saying that his option wouldn’t be picked up and he was going to be let go. My mind, honestly, I was disappointed for Tom, I thought Tom worked as hard as he could last year, did a great job of leading our team, but I was also excited about my opportunity of going to San Francisco and interview for the job. Obviously I heard all the things that were said, obviously I think players are disappointed when someone they’ve been with has been let go. Obviously there was momentum being built from last season. But you’ve got to have that big vision of what you’re really trying to accomplish. We all know that this whole thing we do in football is not about being in second place, third place. You want to be in first place and obviously coach felt like thought we had some players and some things to do that and we didn’t get it done this past season.

Balekian: As a follow up, if Jim Harbaugh wasn’t offered the job and you were No. 1 for the Niners and the Raiders, which one would you have taken?

(Much laughter by all three parties)

Jackson: Aw, come on, that’s not fair. The Raiders job. Are you kidding me? Silver and black all the way, baby.

Neal: Looking at team, free agents, how do you prepare with labor agreement hanging in limbo moving your team moving forward? How do you keep guys on course with ample amount of free agents?

Jackson: A lot of teams have this situation. Maybe we have a few more than others. But trust me, there’s a plan in place. One thing I think we all know about coach Davis. He’s going to make sure that there’s good players that we put out there, and I know that without any shadow of a doubt, that we’re going to put the best team out there that we can. Obviously, no one knows exactly what way the CBA is going to go, but I’m very very confident in our process and how we go about maintaining our players and how we go about getting better players. Obviously, we want to keep the guys that we want to keep, and obviously I hope we can keep ‘em all. But we know in this day and age in the NFL it doesn’t work that way. Obviously, there’s some tough decisions to be made. We’ll make ‘em and we’ll move forward.

Neal: Being with you in Baltimore, you could see Flacco missed you this year, Cam Cameron said he missed you, you were in that league with a 3-4, with Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, you thinking about changing this defense, stay with the 4-3 or with the 3-4? What do fans have to look forward to on that defense?

Jackson: This is what they can look for, Lorenzo. This is no question what we need to get done. No. 1, we’ve got to stop the run. I mean, we all know that. There’s no question about that. No. 2 is we’ve got to get the quarterback on the ground. I mean, and I mean get the quarterback on the ground as fast and as hard as we can. That’s what the Raiders were built on, and obviously we need to go play better. We have the nucleus to have a very good defensive football team, Richard Seymour, obviously, Matt Shaughnessy, Rolando McClain, Kamerion Wimbley, Tyvon Branch, I mean, it goes on and on and on on that side of the ball. What I’m in the process of doing is making sure I put together the best defensive football staff that I can, and we’re going to go out, rollup our sleeves and coach this defensive football team as hard as we can give ourselves the best opportunity to have success on Sundays.

Balekian: You played musical chairs with Gradkowski and Campbell, Gradkowski hurt, Campbell finishes season, in your eyes right now is Campbell your No. 1 quarterback?

Jackson: No question. I mean, there’s no question he is. The guy won some very important games. The guy played hurt. The guy got to know his teammates, rallied his team, and finished very strong. He helped us win, obviously, every game in our division, there’s no question he is definitely the unquestioned starter on this football team at this point. But I think he knows without any shadow of a doubt, there’s work to do, and we have to do a great job of surrounding him, putting better players around him so he can go out and be the quarterback that we all know he can be.

Balekian: You talk about Super Bowl, we’re going back forth, Lorenzo likes Big Ben, I like Aaron Rodgers, who do you like one game, Super Sunday, Big Ben, or Aaron Rodgers?

Jackson: Both of them are very talented players. There’s no question about it. Aaron Rodgers has had a sensational season and obviously has led his team to the Super Bowl. But when you play Pittsburgh, I mean, obviously it starts with Ben Roethlisberger, but then Dick LeBeau, what he does over there on defense is second to none and I know two years ago they played and both teams scored a lot of points with Pittsburgh ending up winning late. So I think it’s going to be a very close game, but I would have to go with the Steelers in this one. They’ve been one of the best teams all year. They have some very talented players, their quarterback, he’s a winner, a guy that finds a way to win games and that’s what you look for.

Balekian: Many fans in Central Valley, we got calls, people saying, Al Davis has had it, he’s done, he’s an owner that maybe needs to pass the torch . . .

Jackson: Nooo, let’s stop that right now. That’s not even close.

Balekian: Let me ask you, in your talks with Al Davis, is he all there, every time I see him he’s calling out his ex-coach, whether it’s Tom Cable or Lane Kiffin . . .

Jackson: I’ve been told today that we’re in the `honeymoon phase.’ I kind of laugh about that. I’d like for it to be one heck of a marriage, because I don’t see what everybody sees. Obviously, maybe I’m a little different. Maybe I’m a little naive when it comes to things, but I don’t think so. I’ve worked for coach Davis for a year. I’ve started a relationship with him that’s based on honesty, based on what I see. You know sometimes people tell people what they want to hear. I’m not one of those kind of guys. I’m not built that way. I’m going to tell you how it is and if it’s good enough it’s good enough, and if it’s not, it’s not, and I think that’s where the respect comes from. He tells me what he sees. I can tell him what I see and then it works together and there’s no time with coach that I think, everybody has these thought processes, and un-thoughts about what he is and what he isn’t. This guys knows football. He knows the running game. He knows the pass game. He understands how to get the run game stopped. He understands how to get the pass game stopped, and I think people would be surprised if they could sit down with him and really talk football with him, and find out what he’s thinking, I think you’d be surprised, because he probably has forgotten more football than most people know. I don’t subscribe, and not because I work for him, or I’m his head coach, I know people will say, `Well, that’s why you say what you say,’ No. I say this because I know I work with the guy each and every day and I know what he’s trying to accomplish. I think we all do. It’s no different with you and your business. You want to be the best at what you do, and all he’s trying to do is win, and that’s all you can ask for, and I think he would do whatever it takes within the rules to give his organization the best chance to win.

Neal: Watching your offense, not having a go-to receiver, not having a big-time proven guy in the NFL who can catch the ball, not having a great offensive line, what was turning point and when did you know this offense would be able to score like they did against San Diego, Kansas City on limited talent?

Jackson: You know, what Lorenzo, I think it goes all the way back to when I first got here. You evaluate the players for what they do well, and you try to keep them out of situations where they don’t do things well, obviously. So when I got here, there was a core group of players, the Zach Millers, the Darren McFaddens, the Robert Gallerys, the Louis Murphys, obviously Jacoby Ford came on and had a heck of a season for us, the Michael Bushes, the Cooper Carlisles, that I wanted to know what it was they thought that we did well and obviously you go back and watch the video tape and then it became a mixing and matching of systems, between the system of which they had been in and the system I’m accustomed to running, and as you see, we did a lot of multiple things with this football team. What I try to do is to put them in a position to be successful, Darren had a sensational season, obviously, Jacoby Ford came on and had a good year, Louis Murphy had a good year, Zach is solid, even Darrius Heyward-Bey made strides this season. It was all about getting the environment right in my opinion for our players to have success, was running the ball or throwing the ball, and then you’re able to bring in a guy like Jason Campbell who’s very steady, who really works at his craft and it’s very important to him. Then all of a sudden it gets infectious. You start playing well, guys start believing what you’re selling, and the next thing you know you look up and you’re playing decent on offense. I’m not going to tell you guys we’re anywhere close to where we’re going, by no stretch of the imagination. But I think the process has started on both offense and defense. Now it’s a matter of getting these players back, feeling good, and taking the momentum that we had last season and let’s go move forward.

Balekian: I see Raiders not only making playoffs, but with T.O. and Ochocinco in the Black Hole . . . can fans expect this?

Jackson: I don’t know about that, but what they can expect is that those young players that we have are going to get better and they’re going to play well. That’s what I know they can expect. I know both of those young men that you just mentioned, they’re fabulous players in their own right, but they play for another team, and we have some good players here and we’re going to coach them and continue to get these young me better.

Post navigation

Obviously, if Hue can be a great cook and keep a clean house, continue to kiss Al’s wrinkled ass while building a bully. It could be a happy “marriage”…
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I agree. Let’s hope Davis minds his manners, and doesn’t fart in anybody’s face, while they’re kissing.

700 Pages: Length of the playbook brought to Redskins Park in 2006 by Al Saunders, who Snyder hired to call plays for Gibbs.

Hope Hue keeps this dude on a leash.

bcz24

Why is it a bad thing to have a 700 page play book?

bcz24

I mean people were mad when our playbook was 7 plays with jamarcus…

http://www.aldavissucks.blogspot.com The Real MaddenRaider

RaiderDogg Says:
February 2nd, 2011 at 10:45 am

MR

Beikert is a pretty smart guy, he is a decent coach too from what I have heard.

…………

It’s like going in circles.

Again…where is the demand from other teams, if that’s the case?

hwnrdr

Maybe there was a demand for Biekert…we just never heard of it…I don’t know, or it could be the secret weapon that no one knows about! We’ll see how that works out if there is a season this year!

http://www.aldavissucks.blogspot.com The Real MaddenRaider

hwnrdr Says:
February 2nd, 2011 at 11:35 am

Maybe there was a demand for Biekert…we just never heard of it…

…………..

Maybe there wasn’t.

YoungAmerican

# Raider75 Says:
February 2nd, 2011 at 11:08 am

700 Pages: Length of the playbook brought to Redskins Park in 2006 by Al Saunders, who Snyder hired to call plays for Gibbs.

Hope Hue keeps this dude on a leash.

————

It’ll likely still be Hue’s playbook, with Saunders adding a couple things here and there. If they’re going to have Campbell as the “unquestioned starter”, I doubt they’re going to do much to shake him up.

hwnrdr

You’re right…like I said, maybe he’s the secret weapon that hasn’t been found out about yet!

On a side note…I just talked to guy at my job who is here from Cincinatti that he lives around the corner from Chucky B and he said that he will not be the DC unless Al cannot get who he wants…which was said I guess…

In November, a writer named Dave McKenna wrote an article for the Washington City Paper headlined, “The Cranky Redskins Fan’s Guide to Dan Snyder: From A to Z (for Zorn), an encyclopedia of the owner’s many failings.”

Snyder was not amused.

The Washington Post reports that Snyder is now threatening legal action against the City Paper and is seeking McKenna’s dismissal.

So far, Snyder has not filed a lawsuit, but one of his lawyers confirmed that a lawsuit is being prepared. For its part, the City Paper is standing by its decision to publish the piece ripping Snyder, and calling McKenna a “stellar reporter.”

So it sounds like Snyder won’t get his wish, and McKenna won’t be fired. And Snyder will also discover that his decision to ask for McKenna’s termination ensures that many people who hadn’t read “The Cranky Redskins Fan’s Guide to Dan Snyder” will now.

——————————-

Welcome to Al’s world!

hwnrdr

Oh no…I don’t think that they will give up DP now right…if Moss leaves???

hwnrdr

Too funny Ray…now the world will want to read that guide!

LA to TheBay

hwnrdr Says:
February 2nd, 2011 at 12:08 pm
Oh no…I don’t think that they will give up DP now right…if Moss leaves???

—————–

Depends. Both will be seeking promotions. Capers is still GB’s DC, and doing a great job.

Seems to me like we get whoever Eagles don’t.

hwnrdr

True…Can’t wait to see how Sunday turns out! If GB wins…it could get interesting!

LA to TheBay

Both Perry and Moss have ties to Oakland. Eagles have (reortedly) expressed interest in Perry. Moss has expressed interest in Eagles.

Strange triangle emerging.

I don’t think Raider fans would be opposed to either guy. With Bresnehan and Biekert, you have LB-minded guys.

I would say we’re still looking at Perry.

http://www.aldavissucks.blogspot.com The Real MaddenRaider

So basically, the Raiders can hire anyone off the street, and in your view, it’s automatically a good hire because this person can be an “unknown secret weapon”? Can’t that logic be applied to anything?

LA to TheBay

Whoever is DC has to make sure these guys are organized. Secondary looked very solid at times and completely jacked up others (especially when in cover 2).

We desperately need to introduce some zone blittz and if rumors are true, may do just that.

LA to TheBay

He was talking about Biekert, MR, not any random person.

There was no demand for Biekert from other teams, that we know of, but that doesn’t mean he won;t be a good coach.

Also, hiring former Raiders goes a long way with fans. Look at the reaction to the Wiz signing. As an asst. O Line coach.

J Hill

LA,

Are you really telling me you don’t recall TK dropping into coverage?

Marshall tried to implement some zone blitz and cover 2 and we were AWFUL at it.

I think the issue is our lack of a consistant pass rush on 3rd downs. AND out lack of an ability to disguise our blitzes.

http://www.hotmail.com The Dirtee Raccoon

258.The Real MaddenRaider Says:
February 2nd, 2011 at 9:25 am
I think Al will trade up to get Chaz Henry in the first round. What do you guys think? This is the year Al makes all the right moves.

******************

“This is the year Al makes all the right moves”?

Al always makes the right moves. My Unc Al is never wrong! He is the smartest man in the NFL.

Beikert is a pretty smart guy, he is a decent coach too from what I have heard.

…………

It’s like going in circles.

Again…where is the demand from other teams, if that’s the case?
========================================
A coach has to start somewhere. I think that he is still young enough to reach some of these younger players on more of a peer level, which legitimatizes his perspective somewhat. Maybe he will never coach again maybe he will. Too early to tell how his coaching career will shake out. Maybe he will be in high demand in a few years if he has any success at the level he presently resides.

hwnrdr

And who knows…both Wiz and Biekert could suck at coaching…reference Slater and what’s his name from Art Shell II

LA to TheBay

J,

Exactly why I stress whoever they hire has to be able to bring organization to the defense, secondary in particular.

We can maul them with the front four, but need to disguise more.

If we’re up by 21, then 4 man pressure and man coverage isn’t so bad. If it’s a close game and we’re playing a good QB, it’s not always gonna work.

We know our strengths and weaknesses.

I’m of the mind that you fix the weaknesses to add another dimension to your game.

http://www.aldavissucks.blogspot.com The Real MaddenRaider

LA to TheBay Says:
February 2nd, 2011 at 12:16 pm

There was no demand for Biekert from other teams, that we know of, but that doesn’t mean he won;t be a good coach.

…………

It doesn’t mean he won’t be a bad one either.

http://www.aldavissucks.blogspot.com The Real MaddenRaider

RaiderDogg Says:
February 2nd, 2011 at 12:20 pm

Too early to tell how his coaching career will shake out.

………….

Not for you. You’re already saying he’ll relate to the players on a peer level.

LA to TheBay

MR,

I agree. Raider fans get excited to see a former Raider return.

Doesn’t mean he’ll be a good coach.

Wiz, I think will be, based on the (albeit limited) things I’ve heard about him while at Stanford. They had a pretty good line.

J Hill

As usual, I agree LA.

LA to TheBay

J, we gotta work out the safety situation.

Is it Tyvon at SS with Mitchell sticking to his situational role?

Mitchell coming in and playing the role Huff used to play (shadowing TEs) with Huff playing CF?

Huff may not even be on the team. Do we have the youngster step in?

Lot of questions there.

Honestly, I think we’ll ultimately stick to our strengths rather than improve weaknesses. Reason I say so is because working on zone coverage would mean a switch in philosophy.

Marshall was able to run a cover 2 and mix in blitzes. Rob Ryan was able to (try to) implement a 3-4 look.

It’s not impossible that we break from Al’s D philosophy, especially if those rumors of his fascination with the Jets’ D are true. Problem is, he likes his guys and will get in coaches ear trying get them PT.

Branch is not suited for a cover 2 of any kind.

SilverNBlackPA

Wonder if any Bay Area media type will take on the challenge to work up a similar article about Al?

michaelbush29 Michael Bush
I’m now watching the raiders vs kc game. And these commentators are pissing me off. The last game of the year.
….

my reply…

@michaelbush29 welcome to our world. The anti-Raiders bias is all over the networks. We have to put up with that crap every week.

http://www.hotmail.com The Dirtee Raccoon

336.J Hill Says:
February 2nd, 2011 at 12:39 pm
Exactly why I stress whoever they hire has to be able to bring organization to the defense, secondary in particular.

——————————————————

Tyvon Branch and a DE that can constantly apply pressure from the LOS is the key to our defense taking the next step.

I happen to think our secondary will be just fine. It’s the pressure from the edge that I’m kinda concerned about.

**************************

Wimbley does this well… on passing downs. We can not afford to have a light fast/speed DE on all downs, our run d is already shakey. Houston needs to progress as a pass-rusher.

http://www.hotmail.com The Dirtee Raccoon

342.LA to TheBay Says:
February 2nd, 2011 at 12:47 pm
Bold statement: 2011 Raiders will have the best D Line in football.

Bolder statement: 2011 Raiders will have a winning record.

*********************

I feel the same way, no reason why not.

J Hill

We need a double digit sack guy. Wimbley needs too add an inside move to his game. And it might be a good idea to move him to DE permanently.

LA to TheBay

J,

I don’t know about Wimbley at DE permanently,

as Rac said:

Wimbley does this well… on passing downs. We can not afford to have a light fast/speed DE on all downs, our run d is already shakey. Houston needs to progress as a pass-rusher.

RaiderSam

# big chill Says:
February 1st, 2011 at 5:51 pm

no more watching blacked out raider games online or other sports games for free the feds shut down atdhe.net
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they got ILEMI, too. Damn shame. Seized by ICE/DHS